Darren Ambrose felt Mohamed Salah tried shots during the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday he ‘never normally would’ as the Liverpool star tried to find form against Manchester City.
Salah has seen a sudden drop in output during recent weeks from the goal-laden burst the Egypt star had enjoyed. He is now without a goal in three Premier League games and three Champions League fixtures, after netting 28 times over his 39 outings in the competitions.
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The 29-year-old has also provided 11 assists in the top-flight this term. But Salah has only offered two over his last 14 league appearances since December 4. He had offered seven assists against seven different teams in nine games between October 3 and December 4.
Salah did not enjoy the greatest of afternoons as Liverpool drew 2-2 with Manchester City in the top-flight last week, either. Boss Jurgen Klopp watched as he struggled to influence the meeting, but responded straight after the break to assist Sadio Mane for their second.
It would be another tough time for Salah in Europe, as well, after coming off the bench for Diogo Jota. He struggled to grow into the closing stages of the tie on Wednesday night, but played a brilliant pass for Mane in stoppage-time only to see the offside flag deny the goal.
Ambrose felt Salah tried shots he ‘never normally would’ in Liverpool vs Man City
Salah’s plight in front of the net would not end against Manchester City as Liverpool won the FA Cup semi-final 3-2, either. He has now not scored from open play since netting at home to Norwich City on February 19 – despite playing 701 minutes (11.5 hours) since.
And in a bid to end his open play drought, Ambrose felt Salah got desperate – trying shots that he ‘never normally would’ as Liverpool held on to beat Manchester City in the FA Cup.
“[Luis] Diaz got over the top, tried to play it through to Salah and [Oleksandr] Zinchenko tried a diving header back and Salah got there before [Zack] Steffen, and tried to dink over him and just hit the outside of the post,” Ambrose said on Sky Sports News (16/4 17:01).
“It’s not quite working for Salah, he seems to be snatching at things that he never normally would. We spoke about how long it’s been since he scored and you can see why he’s just a bit off form.”
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